Immigration Reform

America was indebted to immigration for her settlement and prosperity. That part of America which had encouraged them most had advanced most rapidly in population, agriculture and the arts.

— James Madison

My goals:

A path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants without a history of violent crime

Strengthen border security to focus on stopping drug trafficking and other crime along the border

Immigration is a broad topic, but when people discuss it they usually have something very specific in mind: the border between the United States and Mexico. This district lies along that border, so any legislation that affects our borders will have a direct impact on us.

Simply put, I encourage immigration, as well as a path to citizenship for immigrants who enter the country illegally. So long as you can verify your identity and the fact that you're not a violent criminal, I think you deserve a place in the United States. I will support any legislation that expedites the process that allows these people to become a part of our country, pay taxes, and contribute to our economy faster. The sooner undocumented immigrants can come out of hiding and work openly, the sooner they will be able to find proper jobs, participate in our economy, and lose any incentive to turn to crime.

That said, I also encourage stronger border security. While I welcome families entering our country in search of a better life, we must also recognize that these are not the only people crossing our borders illegally. Our border security does what it can to combat drug and human trafficking along our borders, but the borders remain dangerous, and contraband continues to enter our country. I will support any legislation that better funds our border security forces as well as any legislation that shifts their focus toward preventing criminal activity rather than capturing and detaining every person or family seeking refuge in our country.

To do this, we will need to strengthen our relationship with Mexico and work jointly with them to combat crime on both sides of the border.